The union representing Ontario’s secondary school teachers is slamming the province over its plans to increase class sizes while Southwestern Ontario’s largest school board is encouraged by proposed features of the new sex education curriculum, two of the sweeping reforms announced by Education Minister Lisa Thompson Friday.

Thompson announced the Progressive Conservative government is raising the cap for high school classes to 28 students, six more than is currently allowed. It will also raise the cap by one student for Grades 4 to 8.

“Without warning the province has declared war on the public education system,” said Harvey Bischof, head of Ontario Secondary school Teacher’s Federation.

“This is a shocking and devastating announcement.”

Thompson said Ontario high schools have one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the country and the change will be phased in over four years.

But others see job losses and the erosion of the education system.

“I am deeply concerned about what our students can expect in classrooms starting in September,” said Toronto New Democrat MPP Marit Stiles, her party’s education critic.

“This announcement amounts to a very significant reduction in teachers and. . . it will mean less one-on-one time for students with educators. We know more teachers mean a better outcome for our students.”

Southwestern Ontario’s largest school board is waiting to see the what the implications of the province’s newly announced class size shake-up will be.

“It is too early to determine the impact of changes announced today by the minister of education. TVDSB senior administrators are waiting for further details to be released by the province,” said Jeff Pratt, associate director of the Thames Valley District school board.

The board is pleased there will be no change in kindergarten to Grade 3 class sizes, and only one student will be added to Grades 4 to 8 class size caps. It is not clear yet what the impact will be of the announced change to secondary school class sizes.

Board officials are also encouraged by Thompson’s remarks about the concepts that will be covered in the province’s revamped health and physical education curriculum.

“In the meantime, the board looks forward to receiving more information about the changes announced by the minister today,” Pratt said.

The new sex-ed curriculum will replace an interim teaching plan based on 1998 materials that were put in place last year after the Progressive Conservatives repealed a 2015 curriculum from the previous Liberal government. The 2015 curriculum addressed consent, online bullying, sexting, same-sex relationships and gender identity.

The government said the new document will include teaching on abstinence, cannabis education and earlier discussions on body image and consent.

The province says parents will still be able to opt out of having their kids exposed to certain topics in the sex-ed class, and the ministry will issue online modules for those who want guidance on discussing those topics at home.

The full curriculum is expected to be released in May and implemented in September.